Spreadsheet Applications in Geotechnical Engineering [Paperback]

Thomas F. Wolff (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0534934412 | ISBN-13: 978-0534934415 | Publication Date: 1995 | Edition: 1

Foundation engineering naturally lends itself to spreadsheet use for evaluation, modification, and implementation of foundation designs. Spreadsheets are the computational tool of choice for practicing civil engineers. Students need a book which shows how to set up and use spreadsheets for foundation design analysis, and which bridges the gap between analysis techniques taught in the classroom and their real-world application in the field. Wolff is the first book to present the use of spreadsheets in foundation engineering. Wolff makes extensive reference to Das: FOUNDATION ENGINEERING 3/e to demonstrate how the spreadsheet templates on the bound-in disk may be used or modified to solve a variety of analysis problems. Wolff provides a vehicle for including much-needed hands-on design experience and computer usage in the foundation engineering course.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ph.D., University of Wisconsin

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: PWS Publishing Co.; 1 edition (1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0534934412
• ISBN-13: 978-0534934415
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,112,991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Oversimplification, February 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Spreadsheet Applications in Geotechnical Engineering (Paperback)

I have read this book and attempted to use it in practice. Unfortunately, I have found this book to be too general and too oversimplified. If a person knows how to use a spreadsheet program, the book is not worth purchasing. I found it easier to make my own spreadsheets than to use those from this book.

I was especially disappointed with the earth pressures section, the piling section, and the settlement section. The author does an "okay" job of presenting the Boussinesq stress distribution method, but, if you have any idea how to apply this method, it is an easy spreadsheet solution. Additionally, the piling section is incomplete as piles are typically driven through more than one soil unit and the trick to performing a pile analysis is that the main unknown variable is the pile length. If this is known, the problem is easy. This spreadsheet does not simplify anything.

In general, the book does not present solutions to tough problems. For example, in practice, unusual slopes are seen behind walls, rigid walls may be used instead of flexible walls, piling penetrate multiple soil units, etc.

... You are better off purchasing Terzaghi, Peck, and Mesri or Bowles if you need to design something and then taking some time to learn how to use a spreadsheet. You will get more out of your money.